Oligosoma
Otago skink, Oligosoma otagense
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Subfamily: Eugongylinae
Genus: Oligosoma
Girard, 1857
Species

Over 50, see text.

Oligosoma is a genus of small to medium-sized skinks (family Scincidae) found only in New Zealand, Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island. Oligosoma had previously been found to belong to the Eugongylus group of genera in the subfamily Lygosominae; the Australian genus Bassiana appears to be fairly closely related.[1]

Species

The currently described species[2] are:

A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Oligosoma.

Merger of Oligosoma and Cyclodina

A molecular phylogenetic analysis[3] has merged the genus Cyclodina with Oligosoma, rendering Cyclodina an obsolete taxon.

References

  1. Austin, J.J.; Arnold, E.N. (2006). Using ancient and recent DNA to explore relationships of extinct and endangered Leiolopisma skinks (Reptilia: Scincidae) in the Mascarene islands. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 39 (2): 503–511. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.12.011 (HTML abstract)
  2. Uetz, P.; Freed, P.; Hošek, J. (eds.). "Oligosoma". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  3. Chapple, David G.; Ritchie, Peter A.; Daugherty, Charles H. (August 2009). "Origin, diversification, and systematics of the New Zealand skink fauna (Reptilia: Scincidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 52 (2): 470–487. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2009.03.021. PMID 19345273.

Further reading

  • Girard, C. (1857). "Descriptions of some new Reptiles, collected by the United States Exploring Expedition, under the command of Capt. Charles Wilkes, U. S. N. Fourth Part.— Including the species of Saurians, exotic to North America". Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 9: 195–199. (Oligosoma, new genus, p. 196).
  • Jewell, T. (2011) A Photographic Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of New Zealand. Auckland: New Holland (revised edition).
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